Richard Claude Thompson

Born June 19, 1940, in St. George, Utah, to Joseph and Helen (Leavitt) Thompson. He grew up in Gunlock, Cedar City, and St. George. Attended St. George Elementary, Woodward High School, and Dixie High School. He was active in track and field and band (saxophone) with Woodward Dixie High and Dixie Junior College. He also graduated with a BS from Westminster College and got his Masters Degree from the University of Phoenix.
Dick joined Battery B, 213th FA in June 1956 and over the following 33 1/2 years, served with the U.S. Army in Germany, Special Forces (1963-1975), two tours to Vietnam, (Bronze Star, Air Metals, CIB, Parachutist badge, U.S. and foreign,) and numerous other awards and decorations. During his career, he served with the 81st Arty; 19th SFG (Abn); 3 SFG (Abn) 5th SFG (Abn); Det. B-52 (Project Delta) of MACVSOG; 101st Abn Div as flight platoon leader in A Co., 101 Avn.( Assault Helicopter) Bn; commanded the 321th Med. Det.(Air Ambulance); and Utah Military Academy, Region 5. After over 20 years active duty, Dick retired as a Captain.
He also worked as a heavy duty diesel mechanic at various times. He was employed at Cummins Diesel, Consolidated Freightway, and other companies.
In 1955 he met a red-head, and the love of his life, Gayle Crow, and they married Nov. 21, 1958 in the Los Angeles Temple. They had 3 children, Donna, Craig, and Michael.
He enjoyed racing an Austin Healy Sprite, riding and racing motorcycles, hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, photography, bicycle riding for fun and competition, and building and repairing bikes in his later years (“Alta Classic Bicycles”). For several years, he repaired bikes for the missionaries in the South Salt Lake Mission.
Dick was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and served in various capacities. He and Gayle served a mission in the Virginia Richmond Mission from 2002-2004 and also attended the temple together quite often.
Dick and Gayle enjoyed traveling around the country and to foreign lands, but especially to spend time with their children and grand-children, who he loved very much.
He is survived by his wife Gayle, children Donna (Tony), Craig (Jonathan), Michael (Diem), grandchildren Chris, Hailey, Minh, Lien, Elise, Eva, and greatgrandchildren Grace and Lola.
Internment will be at Granite Cemetery following the service, 3001 E 9800 S, Sandy, UT. 84092
Some thoughts from Gayle Thompson, Dick’s wife of 63 years:
When I first met Dick I was 16 and he told me he was, but he really was only 14 (but close to his 15th birthday). Since he lived in St. George and I lived in North Hollywood California we got to know each other a little by writing back and forth. It wasn’t until his family moved to SLC and I started going to B.Y.U. that we started dating and eventually got married November 21, 1958 in the Los Angeles temple.
About six months after we were married he thought about going on active duty in the Army. We talked to a recruiter, it sounded good to both of us and exciting. Dick had already been to basic training so after some more training we went to Virginia for a few months for more, then were sent to Germany. Though he was only a Private and our income was low, we did all the traveling we could while there (camping out) and had some great adventures, met wonderful people and saw amazing things. It was a never to be forgotten time in our lives.
After we got back home and settled in we decided to try and adopt a baby, and got our precious daughter, Donna. Then we adopted another, about 3 years later, and got our funny, happy Craig and only a few months later I got pregnant while Dick was at Ft. Bragg and while he was in Vietnam the first time delivered our shy little son, Mike.
We had years of moving from one place to another as Dick’s career in the Army lead him. He wanted to go back to Vietnam a 2nd time so went through training to be a helicopter pilot and flew Huey’s while there. Because of the RIF after that he went back to “twisting wrenches” as a diesel mechanic, and went back into the National Guard, because of his love of serving in the military.
Dick really enjoyed the out doors to the fullest. As a family we camped and fished as much as we could in the summer time. He had motorcycles for a while and he and I even went on a road trip together to Moab and back in Utah. We took family trips to various places while our children were still home too, making some great memories for all of us. He taught Craig and Michael things about how to take care of the car, bikes, repairs around the house etc. Our daughter Donna had him wrapped around his little finger and she would go to him first when she wanted to do something she thought I’d say no to, because she knew he would say Yes! All the kids loved being with him especially since he was gone a lot and the time with him was precious.
Dick also really liked taking photos and would take his Nikon, with it’s many lenses and attachments to get just the right shot. He taught the kids how to use a camera too and when they got older got them their own cameras.
Service Information
Viewing May 24, 2022 at 6:00PM-8:00PM
Memorial Mountain View- 3115 E 7800 S, Cottonwood Heights, UT. 84121





Viewing May 26, 2022 at 9:00AM-10:30AM
2675 E Mt. Jordan Rd. (2580 E) Sandy, UT. 84092





Funeral Service
May 26, 2022 at 11:00AM
2675 E Mt. Jordan Rd. (2580 E) Sandy, UT. 84092